Samsung Aims to Launch Tri-Fold Smartphone by Year-End, Confirms Exynos 2500 for Flip 7
Samsung’s smartphone chief outlines next-gen device ambitions and AI roadmap
Samsung Electronics is preparing to launch a tri-fold smartphone by the end of 2025, the company’s smartphone division head confirmed on Wednesday. The announcement comes alongside the unveiling of the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7, as the tech giant seeks to lead the next wave of innovation in mobile form factors and artificial intelligence (AI) integration.
“As we explore the potential of AI, smartphones are becoming central to the experience,” said Roh Tae-moon, head of Samsung’s Device Experience Division. “We are pursuing hardware innovations tailored to AI services, aiming to transform the smartphone into an intelligent companion that perceives and responds in real time.”
Tri-Fold Smartphone on the Horizon
Samsung has been teasing new foldable designs, and Roh now confirms that a tri-fold model is actively in development, with plans for a release before the end of the year. While a specific name hasn’t been finalized—though rumors suggest “Galaxy G Fold”—Samsung is focused on refining the product’s usability and design ahead of launch.
“When we first introduced foldables in 2019, many were skeptical,” Roh noted. “Now, it’s a growing category, and we believe that more competition in this space will only drive further innovation.”
The new tri-fold concept was hinted at during the company’s previous Unpacked event in January, where Samsung outlined a roadmap of evolving device formats aimed at enhancing AI capabilities.
Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7: Slimmer and Smarter
The Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Flip 7 were officially introduced with thinner profiles to improve the user experience. The Fold 7, in particular, features a folded thickness of just 8.9mm and an unfolded thickness of 4.2mm, emphasizing its sleek new design.
Flip 7 to Feature Exynos 2500 Globally
Addressing questions about the Flip 7’s performance, Roh confirmed that the device will run Samsung’s in-house Exynos 2500 chip across all markets. Though the chip was not highlighted during the Unpacked presentation, Samsung has completed extensive performance and quality validation.
“Since the launch of the Galaxy S1, we have always used the most competitive APs available,” Roh said. “The choice of Exynos 2500 wasn’t based solely on benchmarks but on how well it works with our Galaxy IP and system optimization.”
Samsung’s decision to equip the Flip 7 with the Exynos 2500 stands in contrast to the recent Galaxy S25, which uses Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chipset. This discrepancy raised speculation among consumers and industry watchers about the readiness and reliability of Samsung’s chip.
Galaxy AI to Expand Across 400 Million Devices
Reinforcing Samsung’s commitment to democratizing AI, Roh shared that Galaxy AI features will reach 400 million devices globally by the end of the year. These functions will extend beyond new flagship models and include older devices, provided they meet hardware requirements.
“Our vision for Galaxy AI is rooted in accessibility,” he said. “We are ensuring that as many users as possible, from flagship to A-series, benefit from mobile AI innovations.”
With form factor experimentation, a robust AI strategy, and renewed confidence in its chip development, Samsung appears poised to reshape the future of smartphones, starting with the long-anticipated tri-fold device.
Source: GSMArena | KoreaTimes
